GaryRissling wrote:I've been to three wcq's at crew stadium including last night. I absolutely love that place-- the field is in incredible shape, the fans were tremendous, and you're right on top of the action as the stands are built very close to the field. If you ever get a chance to check out a meaningful us game (hopefully US/Mexico will play there in the hex), you won't be disappointed.

That's awesome. If they play there in the hex on a weekend, I'll try to make it. I went to the Antigua qualifier in Tampa, and while fun, really didn't have the atmosphere (at least from what I could tell on TV) that Columbus has.

GaryRissling wrote:I've been to three wcq's at crew stadium including last night. I absolutely love that place-- the field is in incredible shape, the fans were tremendous, and you're right on top of the action as the stands are built very close to the field. If you ever get a chance to check out a meaningful us game (hopefully US/Mexico will play there in the hex), you won't be disappointed.

That's awesome. If they play there in the hex on a weekend, I'll try to make it. I went to the Antigua qualifier in Tampa, and while fun, really didn't have the atmosphere (at least from what I could tell on TV) that Columbus has.

I was at US/Jamaica wcq in '04; and there were a lot of Jamaican fans there (~25% of attendance from what I can remember). Having this match on a Tuesday I think made it difficult for foreign fans to come in from other cities making it something like a 95% pro-US crowd.

I really like this article, too. My one quibble is that I don't think the author put enough weight on the really poor defensive record of the US toward the end of the Bradley era. I'm somewhat disappointed that Klinsmann hasn't been able to implement a more proactive, attacking style as promised, but the US was a mess defensively when he took over. They blew a 2-0 lead against Brazil in the Confed Cup (which might be excusable because it's Brazil), gave up early goals in 3 of 4 games at the 2010 World Cup (letting Slovenia go up to 2-0!?), and then blew a 2-0 lead against Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup. Despite Klinsmann's preferences for attacking play, it makes sense as a new coach coming in to try to stop leaking goals first, something which I think Klinsmann has accomplished, and then focus on building up the attack.

Gaucho wrote:Please tell me you're joking. That was a reckless and dumb lunge by Jonjo.

He got the ball, it wasn't from behind, and Evans was off-balance already and had both feet off the ground. If that tackle was normally a red card offense Scholes would never have finished a single match.